2012 Grand Prix Final: Pairs Preview

This event is kind of a hodgepodge. I feel like no pair has impressed me this year. The fact that Denney & Coughlin are the 1st alternates shows you how weak the pairs field is this season.

Volosozhar & Trankov (RUS) are certainly the frontrunners. They should be at least 20 points ahead of the rest of the field. They are outstanding and if they can stay healthy, they should take the World title this year. They don't make me nervous when they compete because I know they'll hit every element. Plus, he's easy on the eyes.

Pang & Tong (CHN) should be podium favorites. After all these years, they are still divine. I feel like we we see the same lyrical programs from them each year, but with different costumes and music. But if it aint broke, I guess you don't need to fix it.

I'd actually love to see Kavaguti & Smirnov (RUS) take the silver this year, but just when I start to believe in them, they find a way to screw things up. They almost always peak early in the season and then fizzle out by Worlds. They are aging and she has a history of injuries, so their window to win another World, and possibly an Olympic medal is closing.

Duhamel & Radford (CAN) are one of my favorite pairs these days. They have accomplished so much but still have a lot of upside. They are getting better every season and I see them being a real podium threat in 2014.They need to up the ante in terms of their chemistry and on-ice expression and they'll move up to the top tier.

Bazarova & Larionov (RUS) were the beneficiaries of a weak field at both of their events. She has no jump in her jumps and he is just "there". They are, in a word, 'dull'. They are fading fast, in my opinion, and I believe Stolbova & Klimov or one of the rising junior teams will pass them in time for Sochi.

Moore-Towers & Moscovitch (CAN) also benefitted from an easy schedule. They are fine, I actually loved them back in the Zorba/Les Mis season, but they are falling fast compared to Duhamel & Radford. One of their best qualities is they know how to do them. They know their style and they stick to it. There's nothing phenomenal about the Queen Free skate, but then again I'd hate to see them do Dr. Zhivago.

Podium Predictions:
1) Volosozhar & Trankov (RUS)
2) Pang & Tong (CHN)
3) Kavaguti & Smirnov (RUS)

2012 Grand Prix Final: Mens Preview

Patrick Chan (CAN) has not had the banner season he had last year, but he tends to peak later in the season so it's not outlandish to bet on him here. I actually really like his programs this season  because he's making a genuine attempt to be artistic. Robo-Chan is gone...now if we could only get rid of those Dance Team Hands.

Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN) is such a little nugget. I just love him but he genuinely upsets me too. He could beat the pants off of Chan if he ever held it together for a whole event. He could take this whole thing and the World title if he can do his programs up to par. He has all the goods if he could just put together all the parts.

My love Daisuke Takahashi (JPN) can never disappoint me, regardless of what he does. He can go out and fall seven times and still give the performance of a lifetime. His programs are so-so this year, but I keep telling myself that he is saving the best ones for 2014. He has held his own this season, but what I'm really afraid of is the chance that the younger Japanese guys could pass him by next season. That is a legitimate possibility but let's pray it doesn't come to fruition.

Takahiko Kozuka (JPN) is making a comeback and we are thrilled for him. He had a messy 2011-2012 and he's coming back with a vengeance. I won't say he's reinventing himself-he still has that grace and elegance he's known for-but now that he's experienced defeat, I think he's stronger because of it.

Javier Fernandez (ESP) is an anomaly. He can be amazing or disastrous. His Charlie Chaplin program is a gem when all of the pieces are working together. When the jumps go, the character goes, and the rest is downhill from there.

Tatsuki Machida (JPN) is this year's Christina Gao on the men's side. Who on earth expected him to make the GPF? I certainly didn't! He is interesting-he doesn't thrill me, but he is pretty consistant and these days, that's huge.

Podium Predictions:
1) Patrick Chan (CAN)
2) Yuzuru Hanyu (JPN)
3) Daisuke Takahashi (JPN)

2012 Grand Prix Final: Ladies Preview

One lady has dominated the 2012 Grand Prix and that is Ashley Wagner (USA). Sure, Mao Asada won two events as well, but the NHK results were spotty and her programs have not been perfect. Ashley is like a rocket steadily climbing toward Worlds and the Olympics. She has reinvented herself yet again. She is a lady, a diva, on the ice and she invites audiences to simply come along for the ride. I don't feel nervous when she competes, I feel like I'm watching a seasoned professional performing. The rest of this season is hers for the taking if she just keeps on keeping on.

I do love Mao Asada (JPN) and her new programs, but she gets a lot of her points on reputation. Let's just say that she can make little mistakes and get away with them. That being said, we love her and her Swan Lake is to die for.

Akiko Suzuki (JPN) is one of those skaters who never gets the credit she deserves. She basically has to skate perfectly and others have to fall apart if she wants to medal-but that's how it's always been for her whole career.

Kiira Korpi (FIN), other than her beauty, has really never done much for me. In terms of her skating, she's just kind of "there". She is elegant and pleasant to watch, but she just doesn't bring much excitement to the sport.

After starting out with such a bang last year, this Grand Prix was a slight disappointment for Liza Tuktamisheva (RUS) but she's still done quite well for herself. She's getting used to a growth spurt and she's survived. She didn't falli into a complete sophomore slump, so I think she's here to stay.

Christina Gao (USA) is certainly the surprise of the Grand Prix. Who ever would've thought the US would have 2 ladies at the GPF? She has skated with such joy this year and I am so happy to see her doing well, especially being a Harvard student. The balance in her life is unreal.

Podium Preductions:
1) Ashley Wagner (USA)
2) Mao Asada (JPN)
3) Akiko Suzuki (JPN)

2012 Grand Prix Final Schedule EST

Thursday December 6th:
8:45-9:35am Junior Mens Short Program
9:55-10:50am Junior Short Dance
11:10am-12pm Junior Ladies Short Program
12:20-1:15pm Junior Pairs Short Program

Friday December 7th:
4:45-5:50am Junior Mens Free Skate
6:00-6:50 Senior Ladies Short Program
7:15-8:15am Junior Free Dance
9:15-10:10am Senior Short Dance
10:35-11:25am Senior Mens Short Program
11:50am-12:45pm Senior Pairs Short Program

Saturday December 8th:
3:30-4:20am Junior Ladies Free Skate
4:45-5:50am Junior Pairs Free Skate
6:15-7:10am Senior Ladies Free Skate
8:15-9:15am Senior Free Skate
9:40-10:40am Senior Mens Free Skate
11:05am-12:10pm Senior Pairs Free Skate

Countdown to US Figure Skating Championships: 24 Days!

Alissa Czisny (Detroit SC)

• 2005 US Collegiate Champion
• 2005 Skate Canada Champion
• 2009 US Collegiate Champion
• 2009 US National Champion
• 2010 Skate Canada Champion
• 2010 Grand Prix Final Champion

Alissa is an incredibly talented skater, but like the other US Ladies' skaters of this generation, she struggles with consistency in her jumps. Her spins are among the best in the world and she is one of the most graceful and elegant skaters competing today. Though she never received the same international recognition, she reminds me so much of Sasha Cohen in that she has moments of such brilliance in her skating that are often eclipsed by mistakes in her jumps. I've always doubted that Alissa could come up big in a clutch situation, but she proved me wrong this season, winning the Grand Prix Final. Not only did she win, but she beat a very strong field of talented skaters who put up solid programs. This event was the first time I have ever remembered Alissa putting together 2 clean programs in the same competition and it was such a treat to see her at her best. If she can put together two clean programs at Nationals, she may regain her National Title, but more importantly she will be all but guaranteed a spot at the World Championships. Since the US only has slots to send 2 ladies to Worlds, it will be crucial for these skaters to put together clean programs and try to place in the top two, though there is a chance the USFSA may elect to send another skater to the World Championships even if they do not place among the top two. Alissa has done well internationally this season and may be sent to Worlds regardless of her placement at nationals, but it is in her best interest to do well at nationals to build on her confidence going into Worlds and to prove that her Grand Prix Final win was not a fluke. Though other skaters may most likely top Alissa on the technical mark, look for her to outscore the rest of the ladies field at Nationals on program components, the old artistic mark. I would say that her biggest competition will come from Rachael Flatt or Mirai Nagasu, but in the case, Alissa's biggest competition is herself and if she can stay out of her own way, she can really shine in Greensboro in January. 

Countdown to US Figure Skating Championships: 30 Days!

Meryl Davis & Charlie White (Arctic FSC)

• 2009 US Champions
• 2009 Four Continents Champions
• 2009 Grand Prix Final Champions
• 2010 US Champions
• 2010 Olympic Silver Medalists
• 2010 World Silver Medalists
• 2010 Grand Prix Final Champions

If there is such a thing as a "sure thing" in figure skating these days, it is Meryl Davis & Charlie White. With reigning Olympic and World champions Virtue & Moir missing the Grand Prix this year due to injury, Davis & White soared above the competition. Even when their performances were flawed in earlier Grand Prix events, they were ahead of their challengers by leaps and bounds. They struggled a bit with their programs, particularly their free dance earlier in the season, but they gave a stellar showing of both of their programs at the Grand Prix Final and left with a gold medal. I think Ice Dance will be the only senior event at Nationals this year where there is not a showdown for gold as Davis & White have it locked up barring any major disasters. The real competition will be for silver and bronze between their training partners Maia & Alex Shibutani and Madison Chock & Greg Zuerlein. While I love to see great competition for the gold, it will be good for my nervous system to have one senior event that is not a complete nail-biter and the younger teams are sure to put up a fight to make the podium and qualify for the world team.

2010 ISU Grand Prix Final: Pairs Free Skate

1) Kirsten Moore-Towers & Dylan Moscovitch (Canada)

   Music: Les Miserables by Boublil & Schonberg

• I fell in love with this team and this program when I first saw them at Skate Canada, expect a huge score
• I love how she does a shoot the duck before the split twist as the contrast makes the twist look higher
• Triple toe-double axel sequence is solid
• She holds the landing on the throw triple loop
• They have phenomenal lifts and this lasso is no exception
• She goes down on a hand and a knee on the triple salchow, but i don't think it was a fall 
• The lasso lift where he goes onto one foot is great
• She holds the second throw landing as well, the triple salchow
• Spins are good
• And here is the hilight, the hand to hip lift starting with Dylan in a lunge
• FS Score: 59.21 (TES) + 52.63 (PCS) -1.00 (DED)= 110.84
• 58.73 (SP) + 110.84 (FS) = 159.67

2) Lubov Iliushechkina & Nodari Maisuradze (Russia)

   Music: Conquest of Paradise by Vangelis

• Their speed is great right from the start
• I like that they start with a triple salchow as opposed to the usual split triple twist
• The triple toe-double toe sequence is very strong, both are great singles skaters
• Lubov two-foots the landing on the throw triple flip
• She has a gorgeous arch in her back in the lasso lift
• She shows off that arch again in the pair spin
• Wonderful height and solid landing on the throw triple loop and they get a bonus for placing it past the halfway point
• I really like their choreography and they have some pretty intricate holds
•  Fantastic unison on the spins, they have really done a lot of work since their less than stellar showing at Cup of China
• He struggles a bit to get her up on the hand to hip lift but once she is up, her positions are gorgeous
• She has a very nice death spiral, but finishes after the music
• Lubov does her signature fist pump after a strong program
• Ekaterina Bobrova is supporting them from the stands, looks very happy for them
• This program has grown on me so much since I first saw it at Skate Canada
• FS Score: 60.99 (TES) + 56.39 (PCS) = 117.38
• 60.06 (SP) + 117.38 (FS) = 177.44

3) Wenjing Sui & Cong Han (China)
   Music: City Lights by Charlie Chaplin

• Nice opening sequence with clean jumps and a good split twist
• She landed really funny falling on the quad salchow throw, almost in a split position, I hope she didn't hurt her knees, not sure if she fully rotated or not
• That spiral sequence shows off the amazing flexibility in her back
•  Her throw triple flip was huge and she landed it perfectly
• I love that position in that combination spin where she is in the needle
• I want her to point her feet harder in the lift positions
• Overall a very good showing for them minus the fall on the throw quad salchow
• They are so young, could easily be juniors, and they have a very bright future ahead of them
• FS Score: 63.28 (TES) + 55.27 (PCS) -1.00 = 117.55
• 61.49 (SP) + 117.55 (FS) = 179.04

4) Vera Bazarova & Yuri Larionov (Russia)
   Music: The Man in the Iron Mask by Nick Glennie-Smith

• I love the drama and commitment to character in the opening sequence
• Their speed is wonderful right off the bat
• Vera stumbles out of the triple toe but doesn't fall which is surprising for how tilted she was in the air
• Nice clean catch on the split triple twist
• She eeks out a landing on the throw triple flip
• Vera falls on the first jump of the double axel-double axel combination and doesn't attempt the second; Yuri falls on the second
• They have nice interesting exits from their lifts
• They are much stronger artistically than any team thus far, but those incidents on the combination jump will hurt their technical mark
• Second throw is a good strong landing
• Their unison is a bit off on their spins
• I would like more stretch and pointed toes in the lifts
• FS Score: 57.40 (TES) + 57.54 (PCS)v-2.00(DED) = 112.94
• 63.86 (SP) + 112.94 (FS) = 176.80

 5) Qing Pang & Jian Tong (China)
   Music: Liebestraum (Dream of Love) by Liszt

• Great double axel-double axel sequence and the crowd is loving it
• This press lift isn't the most attractive position, but its strong nonetheless
• Good unison on the spins
• They've struggled with jumps and spin unison  this season, but it seems like they've done a lot of work since winning Cup of China
• Amazing artistry, no pair has them beat in terms of grace, elegance, and expression
• I love these new costumes! So gorgeous
• Strong throw triple salchow
• Throw triple loop gets huge height, but she puts her hand down
• With their height and long limbs, the lasso lifts look particularly great
• The crowd seems to love them and they certainly were gorgeous
• FS Score: 55.20 (TES) + 66.10 (PCS) = 121.30
• 68.63 (SP) + 121.30 (FS) = 189.93

 6) Aliona Savchenko & Robin Szolkowy (Germany)
   Music: The Pink Panther by Mancini

• They open with a huge throw triple flip 
• Then into a triple toe-triple toe sequence with slight unison problems
• I hate that extended free leg death spiral position
• Issues on the spins, Aliona does one  extra leg catch revolution and the unison gets off
• Her flexibility is crazy on that spiral, similar to a Sasha Cohen
• Triple twist lacked height
• Landed double axels but Aliona looked shaky
• I love that bend leg position in the hand to hip lift
• I always think this program is over before the footwork starts
• The leg catch position on th overhead lift is amazing
• Throw triple salchow doesn't travel far but it is a clean landing 
• FS Score: 67.48 (TES) + 68.84 (PCS) = 136.32
• 74.40 (SP) + 136.32 (FS) = 210.72

Final Results:
1) Savchenko/Szolkowy                     210.72
2) Pang/Tong                                     189.31
3) Sui/Han                                          179.04
4) Iliushechkina/Maisuradze              177.44
5) Bazarova/Larionov                        176.80
6) Moore-Towers/Moscovitch              159.67

2010 ISU Grand Prix Final: Free Dance

1) Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (Russia)

   Music: Melody of the White Nights by Schwartz 

• This team is super young, but they made a huge jump this season with silver at Cup of China and gold at Cup of Russia
• Keep in mind that they beat Faiella and Scali with these programs
• This program is so gorgeous and romantic and they are very expressive
• The is a well-composed twizzle sequence but Dmitri stumbles which will cost them if they want to move up
• I would like them to pick up more speed here
• I love that front walkover entrance that she does to the lift
• I love that low spin position where they are almost hugging
• This program is just so Russian and I just love it
• I really believe they will be the next great Russian Ice Dance team since Navka & Kostomarov
• I love the ending where she pulls away but then comes back
• I couldn't tell if they finished after the music or if they were just having "a moment" there
• Aside from Dmitri's twizzle error, that was simply beautiful
• FD Score: 40.84 (TES) + 41.58 (PCS) = 82.42
• 54.33 (SD) + 82.42 (FD) = 136.75

 2) Vanessa Crone & Paul Poirier (Canada)

   Music: Eleanor Rigby by Lennon & McCartney

• I have been vocal about not liking this team, but I do love this choreography
• That opening sequence should be constantly moving, like contact improvisation, but they do it like poses so it looks too choppy
• They are big fans of the upside down lift
• They are interesting to watch because they are so similar in height
• I would like Vanessa to bend her knees a little more
• Their twizzles seemed a little slow and they got dangerously close together at the end
• They seem to be picking up speed and gaining momentum toward the end of the program
• That should put them in first for the time being
• FD Score: 42.78 (TES) + 42.14 (PCS) = 84.92
• 54.82 (SD) + 84.92 (FD) = 139.74

3) Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (Canada)

   Music: Moulin Rouge Soundtrack

• Here comes my new favorite team of the season! 
• I would die to see them win the bronze medal here
• They need to pick up speed
• They both have such long limbs that their lines are gorgeous 
• Kaitlin just uses her arms in such a beautiful way 
• The two of them are incredibly expressive and seem so well matched
• I love the way they change their performance quality when the music switches into the Tango de Roxanne
• That rotational lift at the end with Kaitlyn in the head tap position is really lovely
• They have such amazing intensity here at the end
• I loved that program and I would be so happy if they could take the lead right now.
• FD Score: 39.84 (TES) + 40.99 (PCS) = 80.83
• 55.51 (SD) + 80.83 (FD) = 136.34

4) Nora Hoffmann & Maxim Zavozin (Hungary)
   Music: Gypsy Witch Soundtrack by Experidance

• These are new costumes for them and while I think hers is better, his is worse
• All of this loose fabric has Faiella-Scali costume malfunction written all over it
• I like the drama at the beginning of this program, but those cackling witches freak me out
• They remind me of like late 1990s, early 2000s European Ice Dance with the weird music and the fabric 
• I wish she would hit more distinct positions in her changing-position rotational lift because it just looked a bit muddy
• Max used to skate for USA and was successful on the Junior level, but its great to see him have success as a Senior, even if he is competing for another country
• This would be good music for Miki Ando, or Nobunari Oda
• Did I miss something? They don't look very happy! Was there a fall or a missed element or something? 
• FD Score: 37.13 (TES) + 38.96 (PCS) = 76.09
• 55.98 (SD) + 76.09 (FD) = 132.07

5) Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (France)
   Music: Charlie Chaplin Medley

• I just love how they take the ice in character and never  break that character throughout the piece
• This choreography is fabuloso in that it is elegant, yet has an air of whimsy about it
• I feel like I am watching a silent French film, they just create such beautiful images
• They use every ounce of this music and their performance is so nuanced
• The ending image is so lovely
• I don't comment a lot because I wanted to watch their beautiful performance, but everything was top notch from the twizzles and spins to footwork and jumps
• FD Score: 46.50 (TES) + 49.94 (PCS) = 96.44
• 65.66 (SD) + 96.44 (FD) = 162.10

 6) Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA)
   Music: Il Postino by Luis Bacalov & Payadora/Recuerdo by Lisandro Adrover

• And here come the headliners
• Those holds at the beginning are so fantastic, so sensual
• I think Charlie has evolved so much this season from an athlete into an artist 
• Wow those twizzles are simply divine
• Its good to seem them make it cleanly through drop where they had the falls at Skate America
• I like that double camel position in their combination spin
• She has such strength to hold her body parallel to the ice when he is spinning her by her legs with one arm
• This is a phenomenal program, the best I've seen them do it this season
• FD Score: 50.15 (TES) + 52.79 (PCS) = 102.94
• 68.64 (SD) + 102.94 (FD) = 171.58

Final Results:


1) Davis/White                             171.58
2) Pechalat/Bourzat                     162.10
3) Crone/Poirier                           139.74
4) Bobrova/Soloviev                    136.76
5) Weaver/Poje                            136.34
6) Hoffmann/Zavozin                    132.07

2010 ISU Grand Prix Final: Ladies Free Skate

1) Rachael Flatt (USA)
   Music: Slaughter on Tenth Avenue by Rodgers & Wild

• I am really pulling for her to skate a nice free and move up after a flawed short
• She has nothing at all to lose here, so she just needs to go all out
• Nice double axel-triple toe combination to start out
• I feel like she is going to bring it
• That was a tough fall for Rachael on the 3L, cannot remember the last time I saw her fall
• Nice clean triple flip
• That right leg was swinging really wide on the 3L entrance
• The planned triple flip looked doubled, she also eliminated the combination
• I believe that triple loop was singled
• She tacked her combination onto that triple salchow
• Nothing has really looked "right" with her at this competition; Rachael Flatt just doesn't make technical errors 
• Who is making her smile for photos in the Kiss & Cry when I'm sure she'd rather crawl under the bench
• FS Score: 36.47 (TES) + 46.91 (PCS) -1.00 (DED) = 82.38
• 45.19 (SP) + 82.38 (FS) = 127.57

2) Miki Ando (Japan)

   Music: Piano Concerto in A minor by Grieg

• Miki literally looks scared to death, thats not good
• Triple lutz-double loop clean, but really high wrap on the leg
• The Ando jumping machine is back in action with a good triple loop
• Not a fan of her positions at all, but this camel is actually fairly nice
• She should not to the front leg catch position because, in my opinion, Sasha Cohen is the standard so don't do it if you can't live up
• Double axel-double toe is just text book
• Triple lutz is landed a little low but clean, same with triple salchow and triple toe
• Double axel-double loop-double loop looked like an endless series of jumps to me
• Notice how I'm only commenting on jumps? That is because there is nothing else of interest in this program for me
• She is seriously traveling on that final combination spin
• Well Ando did what she does well, a clean long packed with technical content
• Girl just threw it down and that will be the standard for the next four ladies
• FS Score: 64.64 (TES) + 58.06 (PCS) = 122.70
• 50.45 (SP) + 122.70 (FS) = 173.15

3) Akiko Suzuki (Japan)

   Music: Fiddler on the Roof by Bock & Harnick

• Akiko has been my favorite skater of the ladies this season and I'd love to see her win here
• Opening triple lutz may have been two-footed
• Double axel, triple toe was clean
• Nice triple loop
• I love every moment of her program and her connecting steps are just as interesting as her jumps
• I was so lost in watching her perform that I forget to comment on the past few jumps, she may have doubled a planned triple back there
• There is something about her arms on her camel that I just am obsessed with, so powerful and strong
• This footwork sequence is phenomenal and is such an amazing end to the program
• This choreography really does Fiddler justice which I really appreciate
• I think Bock  & Harnick would be proud of her musical interpretation 
• FS Score: 58.18 (TES) + 57.28 (PCS) = 115.46
• 58.26 (SP) + 115.46 (FS) = 173.72

 4) Kanako Murakami (Japan)
   Music: The Mask of Zorro by James Horner

• The costume makes me want to vomit, but the opening triple-triple is great
• Triple lutz is solid, little jumping bean looks like she is on
• She is so youthful in her short, but very mature here
• Completely popped the triple flip, probably a lack of concentration
• Her layback can use work, but the hair cutter into the Bielmann are strong
• Triple flip-double toe, cool as a cucumber
• She reminds me a lot of Mirai Nagasu, like in a big way
• Triple loop and double axel are both nice and clean
• Three jump combination and she just keeps going and going and going
• Nice fast spins to end and she is thrilled with that performance as she should be 
• FS Score: 59.98 (TES) + 57.14 (PCS) = 117.12
• 61.47 (SP) + 117.12 (FS) = 178.59

 5) Carolina Kostner (Italy)
   Music: L'Apres-Midi d'un Faun by Debussy

• Not a Carolina fan, but I'm going to try to be objective
• Those opening poses fit the piece well, very Nijinski
• Triple toe and double axels are solid
• Those long legs look great in spins when she rally stretches out and points her foot
• I want so badly for the nude mesh on her costume to be closer to her skin tone
• she seems to have no speed in certain sections
• She pops a triple loop, but then the triple loop-double toe is clean
• She looks like she has no energy out there and is really fizzling out in the end
• I've said it before and I'll say it now, that music is so subtle and nuanced that you need a true performer to make it interesting, and that is not Carolina
• FS Score: 55.56 (TES) + 60.91 (PCS) = 116.47
• 62.13 (SP) + 116.47 (FS) = 178.60

 6) Alissa Czisny (USA)
   Music: Selections from Winter & Spring by George Winston

• Nice triple lutz-double toe
• And a nice triple flip-double toe
• Just stay calm girl, land your jumps, and you will win this thing
• Such a gorgeous "complete packages" that she gives us
• Triple toe done, 4 jumps yet to go
• Can you imagine Alissa and Stephane Lambiel doing side-by-side spins?
• Triple loop clean into a gorgeous spiral
• Good triple flip and a step out of an otherwise clean double axel
• Great triple toe and we are done with jumps!
• Combination spin is exquisite leading into some wonderfully intricate footwork
• So Alissa Czisny just won the grand prix final with two clean programs! 
• FS Score: 55.68 (TES) + 61.31 (PCS) = 116.99
• 63.76 (SP) + 116.99 (FS) = 180.75

 Final Results:
1) Alissa Csisny                 180.75
2) Carolina Kostner           178.60
3) Kanako Murakami         178.59
4) Akiko Suzuki                 173.72
5) Miki Ando                      173.15
6) Rachael Flatt                 127.57

2010 ISU Grand Prix Final: Mens Free Skate

1) Florent Amodio (France)
   Music: Broken/Apologize/Imma Be/Don't Stop Til You Get Enough

• That opening triple axel was huge and just so strong
• He looks solid and calm today, I think Florent came to compete....or maybe not
• In a competition of this level he just cannot pop jumps like that
• He looks great doing this choreography, but the question all season has been if he stands at center ice and dances too much rather than skating
• Why isn't he able to land most of his jumps cleanly today? Nerves?
• This program certainly hasn't been terrible, but I was really hoping to see a clean skate here because this program is just such a joy to watch when he is "on"
• His spins and footwork are still phenomenal
• With all this time the judges are taking, I'm assuming they are looking at possible under-rotations and edge calls
• FS Score: 70.40 (TES) + 69.86 (PCS) = 140.26
• 61.64 (SP) + 140.26 (FS) = 201.90

2) Tomas Verner (Czech Republic)
   Music: Michael Jackson Medley

• Here comes another Michael Jackson program
• He gets some pretty great height on his triple axel
• I think this program is choreographed and composed better than Florent's because it is more understated and travels more across the ice
• This audience cannot clap in time with the music and it is driving me nuts
• The "Smile" section in the middle is gorgeous, just so lyrical, and he doesn't overdo it
• His jumps are not perfect and a few of them won't get great GOEs, but they are all landed nonetheless
• He won't win with this program, but it is great to see him here giving a nice performance 
• FS Score: 74.35 (TES) + 73.92 (PCS) = 148.27
• 65.37 (SP) + 148.27 (FS) = 213.64

3) Takahiko Kozuka (Japan)
   Music: Piano Concert No. 1 by Liszt

• Alright here comes the youngster from Japan who had the highest scores of the season
• There was no flow out of that opening quad, but he landed it
• Triple Axel was a little better, but landed low to the ice
• He is showing nerves here that we didn't see earlier this season
• I can tell that he is really concentrating on his interpretation of his music and he is getting much better at it
• He looks a little unsure of himself on his jump landings so I would love to see him just have more confidence in himself
• He seems to be squeaking by on a lot of his landings, which is nothing like what we saw him do at his Grand Prix Events where his technical elements were textbook
• I like his serpentine step sequence and he seems to be really leaving his heart out there on the ice
• He should be very proud that he did so well this season by winning to events and putting up two respectable programs here
• FS Score: 82.25 (TES) + 77.64 (PCS) = 159.89
• 77.90 (SP) + 159.89 (FS) = 237.79

4) Daisuke Takahashi (Japan)

   Music: Invierno Portento by Piazzolla

• Dais is all about the costume changes this season and I really like this one
• He looks in the zone, but we'll see right now
• That looked like a two-footed triple to me instead of a quad
• Beautiful triple axel to follow
• This circular step sequence is just mesmerizing and I love that moment where he holds for just a second in front of the judges
• He is unmatched by any other man in terms of artistic expression and musical interpretation
• Wow Dais took a very hard fall there and landed almost on his stomach
• I love his version of a layback spin
• Dais is really struggling to put to together good technical content this season 
• Wow he just took another fall-he had the landing, but simply slipped off the edge
• I'm not sure what is happening this year, but he does not look like our current World Champion
• That headless scratch spin to end the program is gorgeous
• He looks shaken, and I really hope he is not hurt because those falls were hard
• I just caught the video were Taka basically landed on Dai doing a jump in practice, what a fall
• FS Score: 58.20 (TES) + 81.00 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 137.20
• 82.57 (SP) + 137.20 (FS) = 219.77

5) Patrick Chan (Canada)

   Music: Phantasia by Andrew Lloyd Webber

• Yes Patrick, starting off with a clean quad
• Follow that with a clean triple axel
• This choreography is simply amazing and he certainly performs it exquisitely
• As a dancer, this kind of program is my bread and butter because it utilizes every single nuance of the music
• A step out and hand down on the second triple axel, but not a fall, not a fall
• Okay Patrick, you are giving away valuable points here by stumbling on your landings
• I am getting really emotional during those swells in the music because he is doing so well
• That kick as the music transitions into the Masquerade theme is my favorite moment
• Congratulations Patrick! Two programs with zero falls!! 
• FS Score: 86.94 (TES) + 87.22 (PCS) = 174.16
• 85.59 (SP) + 174.16 (FS) = 259.75

6) Nobunari Oda (Japan)

   Music: Piano Concerto No.1/Piano Concerto No.2 by Grieg

• Fall on opening quad attempt, not sure if it was rotated or not
• With that one point deduction, he erases his short program lead over Chan and now must beat him in the Free Skate
• Perhaps Chan's amazing program has Nobu a little shaken?
• I really don't think this program suits him at all, doesn't show his strenghts
• I wish Nobu would do a long program that was more like his short program, which shows what he does well 
• His jumps are textbook, but his spins are nothing special and his footwork is uninteresting
• He did something similar to Dai, landed a double axel, but slid off his edge and took a fall
• A bit if a meltdown for the top Japanese men here
• FS Score: 79.64 (TES) + 78.64 (PCS) -2.00 (DED) = 156.22
• 86.59 (SP) + 156.22 (FS) = 242.81

Final Results:


1) Patrick Chan                            259.75
2) Nobunari Oda                          242.81
3) Takahiko Kozuka                     237.79
4) Daisuke Takahashi                  219.77
5) Tomas Verner                          213.64
6) Florent Amodio                        201.90

2010 ISU Grand Prix Final: Ladies Short Program

1) Rachael Flatt (USA)
   Music: Summertime by Gershwin & Happy Feet Blues by Wynton Marsalis

• Rachael looks cool as a cucumber as usual
• Her face on those opening notes just completely sets the mood
• The double jump out of her opening combo looked very wonky, that may be the leg injury
• Come on Rachael, get it together
• Triple flip looked doubled, and an awkward fall out
• She is not going to be happy with this program
• Double axel is clean, but doesn't get much height
• I'm not used to seeing Rachael make these mistakes, but I really think it may be the leg injury
• She still seems committed to the choreography and performance
• For some reason she seemed very unsettled today, something just seemed "off"
• Well we know she can come from behind to medal, as per Skate America, and that may indeed still happen here
• SP Score: 19.88 (TES) + 25.31 (PCS) = 45.19 

 2) Akiko Suzuki (Japan)
   Music: Tango Jalousie by Jacob Gade

• I am loving Akiko this season, work it out girl! 
• A strong opening triple flip-double toe to set the tone
• Triple lutz is rock solid
• She attacks these musical nuances with such fire, even down to the arms in her camel spin
• Double axel looks as easy as pie
• I love Rachael to death, but this program is going to put her to shame
• She is so committed to this performance
• SP Score: 30.06 (TES) + 28.20 (PCS) = 58.26

 3) Kanako Murakami (Japan)
   Music: Jumpin Jack

• Alright here comes the little firecracker!
• Triple toe-triple toe is stellar and she makes it look like nothing
• This program suits her so well
• Triple flip is just so easy
• I would like to see some improvement on her layback position and a cleaner exit
• She makes those jumps look like nothing
• She totally has this crowd in the palm of her hand
• She couldn't have asked for a better short program here at her first senior Grand Prix Final!
• I just have to smile watching her
• Her idol Mao Asada would be proud, or maybe a little threatened?
• SP Score: 33.04 (TES) + 28.43 (PCS) = 61.47

4) Carolina Kostner (Italy)
   Music: Galicia Flamenco

• This program does nothing for me and I have no clue why it has been getting big scores all season
• She has such long limbs, but in my opinion she doesn't know what to do with them, she never finishes any positions
• The choreography is also bland and uninteresting
• She is executing well as she has all season, but I will never understand those high PCS marks she gets 
• SP Score: 31.53 (TES) + 30.60 (PCS) = 62.13

5) Alissa Czisny (USA)
   Music: Romance from Violin Concerto in D, op. 35 by Korngold

• Alissa looks calm out there
• I love that when expresses emotion, it is real, and she isn't just pulling her face
• Triple lutz-double toe is great
• Triple flip & double axel are clean as well
• That spiral is so gorgeous
• You landed all of your jumps! Good girl Alissa!
• I don't think I was breathing during any of her jumps, but now I can just watch Alissa be her gorgeous self in her spins and footwork
• A clean short for Alissa is so huge!
• If it were up to me, nobody would be allowed to do the heel stretch spin other than Alissa, because nobody else does it justice
• Wow she has to be so happy with herself and her coaches must be breathing a sign of relief
• SP Score: 33.62 (TES) + 30.14 (PCS) = 63.76

6) Miki Ando (Japan)
   Music: Gabriel's Oboe/The Falls from The Mission soundtrack by Morricone

•  Wide free leg swinging out of that opening 3lutz-3loop combination, probably a downgrade
• Oh holy wow Miki Ando just fell on a triple flip
• Double axel is solid
• There is absolutely no life to this program and she has no idea how to interpret this gorgeous music
• I feel bad for her, I wonder who made the decision to go with a new short program for the Final?
• Wow that is tough for Miki, but as we've seen earlier this season, she can come from 4th or 5th in the short to win overall
• SP Score: 22.67 (TES) + 28.78 (PCS) -1.00 (DED)= 50.45

Current Leaderboard:
1) Alissa Czisny                     63.76
2) Carolina Kostner               62.13
3) Kanako Murakami             61.47
4) Akiko Suzuki                     58.26
5) Miki Ando                          50.45
6) Rachael Flatt                     45.19

2010 ISU Grand Prix Final: Mens Short Program

1) Florent Amodio (France)
   Music: Once Upon A Time In Mexico by Robert Rodriguez

• So powerful
• Looks very calm out there
• Oooo you can't pop your triple axel like that, not when you are competing with the big boys
• SP Score: 28.38  (TES) + 33.26 (PCS) = 61.64 

 2) Nobunari Oda (Japan)
   Music: Storm by Yoshida Brothers

• Gigantic jumps out of Nobu today
• I think this short program really suits him well and I wish is long were more like it
• That quad, triple will get a huge number, as well as the triple axel
• His speed is just insane here today and so exciting to watch
• Wow, Nobu just woke me up!
• He looks thrilled with that short and I'm so happy for him, it will certainly get a monster score
• SP Score: 48.06 (TES) + 38.53 (PCS) = 86.59

 3) Tomas Verner (Czech Republic)
   Music: Singing in the Rain

• If I were Verner, I would not want to skate after that program Oda just put up
• Nice opening jump, but you cannot pop your axel like that, the competition is too good
• I love the choreography and Tomas' performance quality, but nowhere near Oda technically
• I think I saw a little stumble in the step sequence, he just doesn't look like he is concentrating enough
• He seems a little slow out there on the ice, but his spins are lovely 
• It looked like he had himself psyched out from the very beginning, must have been tough to go after the huge score by Nobu
• His coach just said "tomorrow is another day," which is one of my favorite quotes from Gone With The Wind, my favorite movie
• SP Score: 28.76 (TES) + 36.61 (PCS) = 65.37

4) Patrick Chan (Canada)
   Music: Take Five by Paul Desmond

• Patrick can put up a huge score in this short program to challenge Nobu's if he can just keep his head on straight
• He has so much charisma and that really comes out here, even in the opening moments of choreography
• Landed that opening quad, not perfect, but landed
• Its always a toss up to see if good Patrick or bad Patrick will show up
• Awesome triple axel
• If he can get through his combination, he should be right up there with Nobu
• He just really shines in this footwork sequence, he is such a showman!
• Good job Patrick, that is what I like to see out of you
• SP Score: 43.77 (TES) + 41.82 (PCS) = 85.59

5) Daisuke Takahashi (Japan)
   Music: Historia de un Amor/Que Rico Mambo/Mambo no. 5 by Perez Prado & Batucada by DJ Dero

• Dice brought out his 3rd new short program costume of the year 
• Huge jumps out of Dice today, he has his game face on and is here to compete!
• Such a performer, I just love it
• Everything he is doing out there is spectacular today and he is just flying across teh ice
• Some technical content is missing without the quad and he won't pass Chan or Oda who landed the quads, but a phenomenal performance nonetheless
• SP Score: 40.57 (TES) + 42.00 (PCS) = 82.57

6) Takahiko Kozuka (Japan)
   Music: Soul Medly by Orin Isaacs

• Taka has the highest scores of the season, but he has yet to compete against Takahashi, Chan, or Oda so we'll see how he does in comparison
• This program seems to take too long to get started and I'm not a huge fan of the opening choreography
• Huge quad into a triple, but turned out a bit, not sure if it was fully rotated or not
• Great height on the triple axel, it was landed a little to low to the ice, but still landed
• All his jump landings look slightly shaky, but that may be nerves
• Ooo too close to the boards there
• I don't love this program, for such jazzy music it doesn't really go anywhere for me
• A decent program for him, but nothing like Oda or Chan
• SP Score: 39.43 (TES) + 38.47 (PCS) = 77.90

Current Leaderboard:


Nobunari Oda                         86.59
Patrick Chan                           85.59
Daisuke Takahashi                 82.57
Takahiko Kozuka                    77.90
Tomas Verner                         65.37
Florent Amodio                       61.64

2010 ISU Grand Prix Final: Short Dance

1) Nora Hoffmann & Maxim Zavozin (Hungary)
   Music: Sleeping Beauty by Tchaikovski & Skaters' Waltz by Strauss

• They really have a lot of speed in this opening sequence
• I would love to see a little more precision in the positions in the Golden Waltz sequence
• This program shows great improvement over their short dances earlier this season, particularly in terms of speed
• SD Score: 30.21 (TES) + 25.77 (PCS) = 55.98 

 2) Kaitlyn Weaver & Andrew Poje (Canada)
    Music: At Last by Etta James & Cheek to Cheek by Irving Berlin

• This is my favorite short dance of the entire season and I am so happy to be able to see it again
• I love that side lift where Kaitlyn's  body is completely parallel to the ice
• They integrate the Golden Waltz seamlessly into the free skating choreography
• What an elegant and graceful program
• The second have is so joyful and so free
• SD Score: 29.50 (TES) + 26.01 (PCS) = 55.51
• This is about 3 points lower than their season's best short program, so it looks like that twizzle issue really hurt them

 3) Ekaterina Bobrova & Dmitri Soloviev (Russia)
   Music: Delilah by Tom Jones

• This music is really repetitive and kind of makes me crazy, but I like the program so much
• Amazing speed going into the start of the program
• They too have twizzle issues with Dmitiri stumbling out of his
• They are nice and close on their midline step sequence
• They look very "Russian" in the Golden Waltz sequence if that makes sense
• That death drop always scares me, it is amazing but I'm always afraid he'll actually drop her
• Lovely rotational lift
• They do a great job of maintaining speed until the end of the program
• How on earth did a Russian Ice Dance team choose to skate to Tom Jones?
• SD Score: 27.00 (TES) + 27.33 (PCS) = 54.33

4) Vanessa Crone & Paul Poirier (Canada)
   Music: Fallin' by Alicia Keys

• Thank the good lord that Vanessa got a new dress, I've been criticizing that white spandex number all season
• On the subject of costumes, I think I would put Paul in something a little more free updated than a tuxedo, he looks a bit too stuffy
• They go almost immediately into their Golden Waltz
• Vanessa's positions always look a little muddy to me and I desperately want her to make them more precise
• I have criticized Vanessa all season for the tension in her upper body and while it is still there, it is improved
• This team is really lacking in performance quality in my opinion
• I want to see more tension between the two of them since they are skating to Fallin'
• I don't think that will be a season's best score, but it should put them safely into first place for now
• Their coach looks a little like Cynthia Nixon
• SD Score: 26.86 (TES) + 27.82 (PCSI ) = 54.82
• Oh wow that score seemed low, they must have gotten low levels on some of their elements

5) Nathalie Pechalat & Fabian Bourzat (France)
   Music: Main Theme from Dr. Zhivago by Maurice Jarre

• They are just too beautiful for words in my opinion
• Amazing flow across the ice, elegance, brilliance
• Wow Fabian came so close to the boards before the shoot the duck
• That was such a gorgeous program and they never lost the flow even for a second
• What a great jump they have made from last season to this
• This short dance just really suits them well
• This is one of the most well choreographed short dances of the entire season
• SD Score: 33.29 (TES) + 32.37 (PCS) = 65.66
• That was their highest short dance score of the Grand Prix Season so far

6) Meryl Davis & Charlie White (USA)
   Music: La Boheme by Puccini & La Traviata by Verdi

• I love how they start this program "asleep"
• No twizzle issues for this team!
• This is a wonderful elegant program, showing great strides for this team in terms of maturity
• Nice flow through their Golden Waltz, deep edges, and precise positions
• Meryl is almost parallel to the ice on the shoot the duck
• The entrance into that rotational lift is wonderful and the positions and speed they achieve are fantastic
• What a wonderful short dance, I am so happy for them
• SD Score: 34.42 (TES) + 34.22 (PCS) = 68.64

Current Leaderboard:


1) Davis/White                                68.64
2) Pechalat/Bourzat                       65.66
3) Hoffman/Zavozin                        55.98
4) Weaver/Poje                              55.51
5) Crone/Poirier                             54.82
6) Bobrova/Soloviev                       54.33

Top us if you can: Japanese Men and Ladies Look to Sweep at the Grand Prix Final

Japan qualified 6 competitors to the 2010 Grand Prix Final in Beijing. Not only did 6 competitors qualify, but they have a legitimate shot at sweeping both the Mens and Ladies podiums. Miki Ando won both of her events and Akiko Suzuki was a close second at each of those events. Kanako Murakami started her season with a bronze at NHK that quickly turned to gold at Skate America. They will be challenged by Americans Rachael Flatt and Alissa Czisny, as well as Italian Carolina Kostner. Daisuke Takahshi and Takahiko Kozuka each won both of their events and Nobunari Oda racked up to silver this season. Patrick Chan of Canada is the one man who has a legitimate shot of upsetting the Japanese men, though Tomas Verner of the Czech Republic or Florent Amodio of France could squeeze there way up there if any of the top four falter.

If either the Japanese Ladies or the Men pull off this grand feat, it will mark only the second sweep by one country in Grand Prix Final history. The first happened during the mens final i n1998 when Alexei Yagudin, Alexei Urmanov, and Evgeni Plushenko won gold, silver, and bronze respectively.

News | Top us if you can | Universal Sports

News | Chan rested and ready for 'mini-worlds' | Universal Sports

 Canadian Patrick Chan, who has become known for receiving huge scores, particularly in his program components, despite messy programs is hoping to quiet the naysayers with a strong showing in Beijing. This is his 3rd trip to the Senior Grand Prix Final and he admits that on his first two attempts he was exhausted and over-trained, but that he feels relaxed and calm this time around. Chan came back from a disastrous short program to win Skate Canada, but fell to silver at Cup of Russia with a flawed and messy free skate. If he can skate both of his programs clean, I believe there is nobody else in the world who can top him. So if Chan can conquer his demons and not beat himself, he will be your 2010 Mens Grand Prix Final Champion.

News | Chan rested and ready for 'mini-worlds' | Universal Sports

News | Five questions with Rachael Flatt | Universal Sports

2010 US Figure Skating National Champion Rachael Flatt discusses her preparations for her first ever Senior Grand Prix Final despite an injury. Though Flatt, a workhorse, has struggled a bit with having to sit at home when she would rather be training, she remains surprisingly optimistic. Though she has the lowest scores of the six qualifiers in the ladies competition, she is the most consistent of all of them and I predict that she will make the podium and win her first ever Senior Grand Prix Final Medal.

News | Five questions with Rachael Flatt | Universal Sports

2010 ISU Grand Prix Final: Podium Picks & Fantasy Picks

Well the regular Grand Prix season has ended and the top six finishers in each discipline have qualified for the Grand Prix Final in Beijing December 9-12. Most of the competitors are en route to Beijing and we are only four days away from the start of the competition!

The icenetwork.com live streaming schedule for the 2010 Grand Prix Final from Beijing is as follows:

Friday December 10th
4:15 a.m.: Senior short dance
5:25 a.m.: Senior men's short program
6:30 a.m.: Senior ladies short program
7:35 a.m.: Senior pairs short program

Saturday December 11th
3:55 a.m.: Senior men's free skate
5:10 a.m.: Senior ladies free skate
6:20 a.m.: Senior free dance
7:40 a.m.: Senior pairs free skate

Qualifying Order:                                                          My Podium Predictions:
**Green denotes fantasy picks
Men:
1) Takahiko Kozuka (481.58)                                         1) Patrick Chan
2) Daisuke Takahashi (461.86)                                       2) Daisuke Takahashi
3) Patrick Chan (466.73)                                                 3) Tokahiko Kozuka
4) Tomas Verner (445.12)                                               4) Nobunari Oda
5) Nobunari Oda (462.61)                                               5) Florent Amodio
6) Florent Amodio (443.15)                                             6) Tomas Verner   
 
Ladies:
1) Miki Ando (346.68)                                                    1) Miki Ando
2) Alissa Czisny (332.17)                                                2) Akiko Suzuki
3) Carolina Kostner (319.48)                                          3) Rachael Flatt
4) Kanako Murakami (315.09)                                        4) Kanako Murakami
5) Akiko Suzuki (335.60)                                                5) Alissa Czisny
6) Rachael Flatt (323.90)                                                6) Carolina Kostner
   
Pairs:
1) Savchenko/Szolkowy (395.58)                                  1) Savchenko/Szolkowy
2) Pang/Tong (366.87)                                                   2) Pang/Tong
3) Bazarova/Larionov (356.83)                                      3) Bazarova/Larionov
4) Moore-Towers/Moscovitch (346.40)                           4) Moore-Towers/Moscovitch
5) Iliushechkina/Maisuradze (333.49)                            5) Sui/Han
6) Sui/Han (341.54)                                                        6) Iliushechkina/Maisuradze

Ice Dance:
1) Davis/White (321.89)                                                 1) Davis/White
2) Pechalat/Bourzat (321.41)                                         2) Pechalat/Bourzat
3) Crone/Poirier (303.50)                                               3) Bobrova/Soloviev
4) Bobrova/Soloviev (299.72)                                        4) Crone/Poirier
5) Weaver/Poje (283.91)                                                5) Weaver/Poje
6) Hoffmann/Zavozin (272.91)                                        6) Hoffmann/Zavozin

2010 ISU Grand Prix Final: Ice Dance Preview

In order to make informed predictions for the Grand Prix Final next weekend, and also just for the love of watching great figure skating, I'm reviewing the tapes of the Grand Prix qualifiers. I'm not going to give complete commentary as that can be found on my other posts, but rather I'll be giving a summary of the programs and discussing how they grew and evolved from the skaters' first Grand Prix assignment to their second. You can catch the pairs in their short program at 4:15 am on December 10th and their free skate at 6:20 am on December 11th as icenetwork.com streams the Grand Prix Final live from Beijing. I will be live-blogging both events right here. 




My Final Predictions:

1) Davis/White (USA)

2) Pechalat/Bourzat (France)

3) Bobrova/Soloviev (Russia)

4) Crone/Poirier (Canada)
5) Weaver/Poje (Canada)
6) Hoffmann/Zavozin (Hungary)

Ice Dance:
1) Davis/White: 15(NHK)+15(SA)=30                            (321.89)
    NHK: 66.97(SD)+98.24(FS)=165.21

• This short dance is a wonderful showing by Davis & White as usual, but there is certainly room for improvement as they become more comfortable with the short dance genre and this program specifically. This program is very operatic in nature and it is great to see a program from them that relies more on elegance than on athleticism. I am seeing a lot more maturity from them in this program and them and a style that looks more "European" to me. I would love a little more speed through the Golden Waltz but still a very strong program. 
• I love the way that they take the ice in character in this tango free skate. As usual, they have awesome lift positions and great flow across the ice. I love the nuances in this piece of music and they really use every ounce of it. The ending is also fabulous with the three very distinct poses on the ending musical beats.

    SA: 63.62(SD)+93.06(FD)=156.68

• I like Meryl's dress better here than at NHK. It looks like the same dress but the lighter peach color suits the tone of the program better than her old red dress. The stumble by Charlie on the twizzle was so uncharacteristic and I doesn't seem to have affected them much here. The Golden Waltz looks much stronger here that it did at NHK with better speed and deeper edges. They really know how to interpret this music down to every single nuance. Their rotational lifts at the end of the program were wonderful and they really suited the musical climax, which is a credit to Marina Zoueva's choreography.
• Meryl made a costume change here to a simpler dress with less of a full skirt and a more angular look. Charlie also switched from jacket to a vest which gives him more freedom to use his upper body. This is a really specific comment, but I love the way they use their heads in their movement. They do both take a fall but it doesn't effect them much. The choreography here is different slightly from NHK as they felt the footwork was too intricate there so they changed a few sections to give themselves some breathing room.

2) Pechalat/Bourzat: 15(CC)+15(TEB)=30                    (321.41)
    CC: 64.12(SD)+95.47=159.59  

• This team really looks beautiful together out on the ice. They are so sensual and elegant. Visually they are probably the most stunningly gorgeous Ice Dance team I have ever seen. They have made huge improvements this season and with Virtue/Moir gone, they may be the only team with a real chance to challenge Davis and White. I would love to see more speed on their Golden Waltz and their rotational lifts at their next event. They are so expressive and you can see everything they are feeling on their faces.
• The performance of this Charlie Chaplin free skate is incredible. They even enter the ice in character and each second of their choreography serves the theme of the program. This is perhaps the most well composed and choreographed Ice Dance program of the season. There is not one wasted movement or gesture and they never break character, not even for a second.

    TEB: 65.48(SD)+96.34(FD)=161.82

• This Dr. Zhivago short dance is really exquisite. I think this team is more elegant than Davis and White, but I do not think they will beat them at the Final unless Davis and White have some major mistakes. They are beautifully expressive, particularly with their upper bodies. I would like to see Nathalie in a lower position on the shoot the duck and also a higher attitude position after.
• I don't know what to say about this free program that I didn't say at their last event. It is so well choreographed and composed to hilight their strengths. No moment is a waste and each movement and gesture serves the theme of the program. I think they are going to put up two very strong programs at the Grand Prix Final and give Davis & White a run for their money, but I think they will come up short and take home the silver in Beijing, which is certainly nothing to scoff at.

3) Crone/Poirier: 15(SC)+13(SA)=28                            (303.50)
    SC: 62.95(SD)+91.47(FD)=154.42

• I don't really love this short dance, for many reasons. First, I don't think that Fallin by Alicia Keys is an appropriate musical selection for a Golden Waltz. Second, I hate Vanessa's costume and I think that it is too tight for a white dress if you know what I mean. This is a team where I prefer to watch the man as Paul has beautiful positions and amazing flow, while Vanessa looks very stiff and rigid, especially in her upper body.
• This free program is choreographed by Christopher Dean so that automatically places a high level of expectation on them in terms of living up to Dean's legendary status. I am not a big fan of these primary colored costumes and I don't understand what they have to do with Eleanor Rigby. I also don't understand why Vanessa insists on wearing these skin-tight spandex numbers where we can see just about everything. I do love the choreography, but that is to be expected from a master. I am not a big fan of the way the program is executed and I think they are lacking in performance quality. Vanessa needs to loosen up her arms and shoulders and extend more through her legs and feet in the more stretched out positions.

    SA: 60.41(SD)+ 88.67(FD)=149.08

• I like that Vanessa chose to let her hair down for the Short Dance here as it keeps her from looking so uptight. She gets a nice low position on her shoot the duck. They score lower here than they did at Skate Canada, but I think I like the program better here as the flow seems much better, and Vanessa doesn't seem so rigid.
• The opening sequence of this free dance seems a little choppy. This program didn't do much for me at all at Skate Canada but it is starting to grow on me. I can appreciate it for the great choreography, but I still do not enjoy watching Vanessa. Her arms are stiff, her legs are often bent, and she forgets to point her feet. Their performance still leaves much to be desired for me and they have little if any connection to the audience. They seem so mechanical out on the ice almost as if this is a display of technique rather than a performance.

4) Bobrova/Soloviev: 13(CC)+15(CR)=28                     (299.72)
    CC: 55.85(SD)+ 89.54(FD)=145.39

• In terms of Ice Dance, this team is the surprise of the season for me as I had never really heard much about them before, but what I see, I really like. They really attack this short dance and use every part of their bodies to express the music. The music gets on my nerves a little, but I really love the program. They are nice and close on their midline step sequence and get really deep into their edges on the Golden Waltz. I think this his going to be the next great Russian Ice Dance team. Watch out for them in Sochi! They really are such a joy to watch.

• This is a very elegant, quiet free dance, but they are both very expressive still. I like this free dance a lot and I would love to see them secure a spot on the podium at the Final. This piece is wonderfully romantic and they have such an amazing connection with one another.

    CR: 60.80(SD)+93.53(FD)=154.33

• I really like this program and it has definitely improved from Cup of China. They have a great flow in their Golden Waltz and it transitions perfectly in and out of their free skating. Their death drop is a highlight of the program and their rotational lifts are also spectacular. They are both wonderfully expressive, especially Ekaterina. 
• I love both of their programs this season and I think that if they can put up two inspired skates at the Final, they can beat Crone & Poirier and stand on the program. I would like to see them clean up their twizzles and really get them perfectly in unison. They have so much emotion when they skate and I think that really makes them stand out from some other teams.

5) Weaver/Poje: 13(NHK)+9(SA)=22                            (283.91)
    NHK: 58.69(SD)+82.88(FD)=141.57

• This short dance to At Last/Cheek to Cheek is one of my favorite of this season in Ice Dance. It is the picture of elegance and I think it is a great example of what a short dance should be in terms of integrating free dancing with the Golden Waltz. I love the opening lift where Kaitlyn is nearly parallel to the ice. What I love about Ice Dance as a discipline is that it is the most pleasing to the eye and this program is quite enjoyable to watch.
• I really like this free program, but the Moulin Rouge music is pretty overdone. I do love the choreography though and they have some nice spin positions. I actually prefer this team to fellow Canadians Crone & Poirier, but they are not getting quite the scores of their countrymen this season. They also have great lift positions and a wonderful performance quality. I do, however, think the ending is very abrupt, both musically and choreographically and I think it should be reworked.

    SA: 59.48(SD)+82.86(FD)=142.34

• I love this short dance even more here than I did at NHK. I think it has even better speed and flow and their lines are just so long and gorgeous. I like that it looks like he is actually leading her in this Golden Waltz. This is so enjoyable to watch and just the picture of elegance. I actually like this better than their free dance this season I think.
• This free dance doesn't seem quite as strong here for me as it did at NHK. It seems just slightly sloppy and not quite so polished. They are a wonderful team and I think they will put up two strong programs at the Grand Prix Final, but I don't expect them to  make the podium unless some of the top teams make major mistakes. I think that they are the most overlooked of the Canadian teams, living in the shadow of Virtue/Moir and now Crone/Poirier. They  have worked very hard to improve and this team should should be able to move up a lot in the world standings this season.

6) Hoffmann/Zavozin: 9(CC)+13(CR)=22                      (272.91)
    CC: 52.69(SD)+78.13(FD)=130.82

• She has beautiful lines in this short dance but he looks a little sloppy for me. They seem to have nice speed and do a nice job of interpreting the music. Their Golden Waltz is nowhere near the level of the other Grand Prix Final Qualifiers in terms of positions and edges, but they are still a nice team.
• The opening sequence of this free skate is very exciting and dramatic. While they do provide great expression on their faces, this program seems slow to me. I really feel they are goign to be out fo theri leagues in the Final this year.

    CR: 57.24(SD)+84.85(FS)=142.09

• They seem to have better flow across the ice here than they did at Cup of China. I think they have really grown into this program over the past two weeks. I also like that Max has shed the tuxedo jacket as it got in the way and made his arms look sloppy. They seem deeper in their edges and more precise in their positions in the Golden Waltz here as well. Their performance and musicality are much stronger here as well than their first Grand Prix outing this season.
• The speed is definitely better here than at Cup of China. Both of their programs have improved greatly after their 4th place showing at Cup of China. They now have good momentum going into the Final and should make a strong showing there.

2010 ISU Grand Prix Final: Pairs Preview

 In order to make informed predictions for the Grand Prix Final next weekend, and also just for the love of watching great figure skating, I'm reviewing the tapes of the Grand Prix qualifiers. I'm not going to give complete commentary as that can be found on my other posts, but rather I'll be giving a summary of the programs and discussing how they grew and evolved from the skaters' first Grand Prix assignment to their second. You can catch the pairs in their short program at 7:35 am on December 10th and their free skate at 7:40 am on December 11th as icenetwork.com streams the Grand Prix Final live from Beijing. I will be live-blogging both events right here. 

My Final Predictions:

1) Savchenko/Szolkowy (Germany)

2) Pang/Tong (China)

3) Bazarova/Larionov (Russia)

4) Moore-Towers/Moscovitch (Canada)
5) Sui/Han (China)
6) Iliushechkina/Maisuradze (Russia)


1) Savchenko/Szolkowy: 15(SA)+15(TEB)=30             (395.58)
    SA: 63.99(SP)+133.71(FS)=197.70

•  This is our first time seeing this team after a disappointing 2009-2010 season and they look very solid in this short program with good speed and height on the jumps and throws.This is a very European looking routine and could not be more different from that of Pang and Tong, the other top contenders. They have some unison issues on their spins but that is probably because the program is new. We should see a more polished short program in Paris at their second Grand Prix. Overall this program didn't do much for me but then again, I have never been a fan of their performance quality, or lack thereof.
• This is an interesting musical choice to do a free skate to The Pink Panther but apparently their goal is to be known as more of a performance team rather than just technical skaters. I don't love this team, I never have, but I do like the choreography of this program. They have a few unison issues, but that is typical for the first competition with a new program. I like the composition of this program, specifically the fact that they are one of the few teams that doesn't begin with the split triple twist. Aliona seems to be struggle with her jumps, doubling triples in the short and in the long. She also has amazing flexibility. This music, in my opinion, is more appropriate for a short program as it is so repetitive and the themes don't really change that much.

    TEB: 66.65(SP)+131.23(FS) =197.88

• This program still isn't doing much for me choreographically, but I must admit that it shows great technique and it is much stronger than it was at Skate America. It looks much  more precise and much more polished.
• This free skate is starting to grow on me, though I still think the music is too repetitive. Their first throw looked stronger than at Skate America, but their spins still need some work in terms of unison. They do a weird death spiral position which I normally  hate, but in this case I like it because it fits the character. Aliona shows some amazing flexibility in her spin and spiral positions . I think they are engaging more with the performance here that they did at Skate America and I actually enjoyed it. It is nice to see some personality from Aliona. With total scores of about 10 points higher than those of Pang and Tong, the next highest qualifiers, this team should have no trouble winning The Grand Prix Final unless they have a major disaster.

2) Pang/Tong: 15(NHK)+15(CC)=30                             (366.87)
    NHK: 67.10(SP)+122.27(FS)=189.37

• This is a beautiful and elegant short program from the world champions as always. They have a wonderful connection to one another and to the music that can only come from maturity. With the retirement of Shen/Zhao, they are the top pair team in China and it shows. There were some unison issues on their side-by-side spins and they finished a hair after the music but that may just be because the program is new and they are getting used to it. 
• This is a lovely free program as always, but with issues in synchronization and side by side jumps, I don't know how long they will be able to hold off the younger teams that are coming up the ranks. They do have maturity and experience on their side, and now they they have been able to come out as an off-ice couple, I think their connection on the ice is stronger. They no longer have the speed of the younger teams, but they certainly have the elegance.

    CC: 60.62(SP)+116.88(FS)=177.50

• This is a beautifully elegant short and it couldn't be any more different from the German team's athletic, dramatic short program. They seem to be struggling a bit this season with jumps, which is something quite rare for them. Dare I say that they are showing their age? They are still gorgeous as ever but there are younger teams like Sui/Han right at home in China that are really pushing the technical envelope. They even seem to be struggling with unison on spins. I love this team and I hope the issue is just that the programs are new and not that they are slipping in their technique.
• Again, there are some jump misses here in the free skate with Pang missing the entire combination. I'm not really sure what is happening with them this season-they just don't look like themselves. I think they are such a gorgeous team, and much prefer them to the Germans, so I hope that they can iron out their issues and make a strong showing at the Final. I am almost certain they will medal there, but I don't know the color. That will depend on how their practices go in the long break between Cup of China and the Final. They will have home field advantage as the Final is being held in Beijing.

3) Bazarova/Larionov: 13(NHK)+13(TEB)=26               (356.83)
    NHK: 60.16(SP)+113.67(FS)=173.83

• The Secret Garden theme is a gorgeous piece of music for this short program, particularly for such a lyrical, elegant team. They have great speed across the ice and wonderful unison. She is also beautifully stretched out in the lifts and the death spiral. The whole program has a wonderful flow to it and is just beautifully composed.
• This free skate is set to The Man in the Iron Mask which makes me think of Alexei Yagudin. They seem to be very strong singles skaters while also having strong pair elements. They are a very musical team and this choreography utilizes every crescendo and swell of the music. There are some minor unison issues, but I think those issues will be ironed out later in the season. They have some lovely lift positions that show strength on both parts as well as good height on their throws and wonderful speed across the ice. They have wonderful exits into their lifts that look almost like ice dance lifts.

    TEB: 64.18(SP)+118.82(FS)=183.00

• I loved this program so much at NHK and it looks like it has developed even more over the 5-week break they've had. Their lines are exquisite and they just exude elegance. They are also very  young at 17 and 24, so they have a lot of room to grow in the sport.
• I loved this program at NHK as well and they look even better here, despite a fall on a throw. This is a "winning piece of music" if you know what I mean. I can completely see them making the podium at the Grand Prix Final after winning two silvers at their events. They hit such lovely positions in their spins and lifts and overall, they are just gorgeous to watch. They are just so Russian and I have missed that since Totmianina and Marinin retired.

4) Moore-Towers/Moscovitch: 13(SC)+13(SA)=26        (346.40)
    SC: 53.68(SP)+117.24(FS)=170.92

• I think Zorba's Dance is the perfect  music for a short program as it is very energetic and it builds throughout. This is such a fun athletic team and they were certainly the surprise of the Grand Prix season this year. They really didn't find their footing until the free skate here in Canada, so this doesn't show how good they are, but they really do improve by Skate America in a big way.
• In terms of choreography and performance, this Les Miserables program is my favorite pairs free program of the season. Perhaps they don't have the technical level and precision of the top teams yet, but their speed and musicality is fantastic. They are wonderfully innovative in their lifts and Dylan is just so strong, even lifting her from a lunging position on the ice. I could watch this program every day and I cannot wait to see it at the Final. They get a standing ovation from the crowd at home here and I personally am on the verge of tears.

    SA: 61.64(SP)+113.84(FS)=175.48

• This program seems much stronger than it did at Skate Canada and has even more speed and energy. I love how they do all of their lifts from the lunge position as the extreme height change makes them more dramatic. 
• This free program was so dynamic at Skate Canada so we'll see if they can bring that back here. I don't know that they have the fire they had at home, but this is still very strong. They had a much stronger short program here so the total score should still be higher giving them good momentum going into the Grand Prix Final. This is a very special team and if they can stay injury-free they will have a bright future. In my predictions, I have them placing 4th at the Grand Prix Final, but they totally have the potential to make the podium.

5) Iliusechkina/Maisuradze: 15(SC)+9(CC)=24             (333.49)
    SC: 60.72(SP)+110.68(FS)=171.40

• This young Russian team is so athletic and dynamic and this short program is power-packed. I love that opening spin lift as it sets a great tone for the program. They use every ounce of this music and wow do they move quickly across the ice. They definitely have that signature Russian quality which I am so happy to see return to the sport. She gets great height on the throws and the lifts too.
• This free skate is much softer and more elegant than their short program and I think the two programs show some nice variety in what they are able to accomplish. They are very young and do not yet have the elegance of some of the Russian pairs of the past, but they show promise and I think they will get there. This program isn't really doing it for me in terms of drama and performance, but I hope it will be stronger by the Final.

    CC: 55.85(SP)+106.24(FS)=162.09

• This is my second time seeing this program and The Marriage of Figaro is such catchy music. I love their speed and I think this short shows off their skills rather than their more elegant free skate. I would prefer to see them establish themselves as the speedy athletic team. They need to concentrate on their unison in their  jumps to really achieve the "two shall skate as one" look. I think they'll make a strong showing at the Final, though I do not predict them to medal.
• As I said in the short, I would like to see them focus on what they do well and create programs that show off their speed and athleticism. This more elegant program is nice enough, but  I think they are struggling in the performance elements. I also wish he would lose the neck scarf as I believe it to be distracting. I am not a fan of the composition of this program in that the throws and more dramatic elements are not placed on the musical crescendos as they should be. They, along with Pang & Tong finished their season after only the 3rd Grand Prix so they've had a lot of time to practice and perfect these programs. Though I don't expect them to make the podium,  I do believe they will put up two very strong programs at the Final. Both times I've seen this free skate, they've finished after the music so I hope they'll work on that.

6) Sui/Han: 13(CC)+11(SA)=24                                     (341.54)
    CC: 59.58(SP)+111.89(FS)=171.47

•  There is nothing else to say about this team other than "wow". Their speed is awesome and their energy is infectious. I think they are certainly the future of pairs skating and as much as I hate making these predictions, watch out Sochi 2014. Their choreography is fantastic and they are such performers. He catches and edge and falls and pulls her down with him, but otherwise this is a fantastic short program.
• This whimsical Charlie Chaplin program really suits them well. They lack the clean lines and precision of some of the older teams, but at 15 & 18, what a feat to qualify for the  Senior Grand Prix Final when they are still competing on the Junior Grand  Prix as well. They struggle with their jumps in this program, but I love the composition and choreography. They are both fantastic performers, but she is just such a doll and so fun to watch.

    SA: 57.53(SP)+112.54(FS)=170.07

• I love everything about this short program and I think it is wonderfully appropriate for their age and their abilities. They remind me of American Ice Dancers Maia and Alex Shibutani in that they have very solid technique, but are also beyond their years in performance quality.
• She landed a throw quad salchow here after a huge fall in practice and though it was two-footed, they will still get a lot of credit for it. She is such a fighter to land these big throws after getting such amazing height on them. I would love to see her stretch out her positions a bit more in the lifts and point her toes harder, but those are things that will come with maturity. She is such a firecracker! Though they may not make the podium, they will certainly make a huge splash at the Grand Prix Final.

1A) Takahashi/Tran: 11(NHK)+13(CR)=24                       (321.13)
2A) Yankowskas/Coughlin: 9(NHK)+11(CC)=22               (321.60)
3A) Lawrence/Swiegers: 11(SC)+7(CR)=18                     (315.82)